Magnetic toy mouse



v. J. MARCHESE MAGNETIC TOY MOUSE Aug. 12, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I FiledJune 17, 1946 v R. S. P: m m R VB 0 mm w r M A M vol-w 0 v| I m .QWG W M4 m 12, 1952 v. J. MARCHESE 2606'397 MAGNETIC TOY MOUSE Filed June 17,1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 W V 6/ INV NTOR. a; 4 VU'IEETTI' J; MEFE 55EATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1 952 UN ITED STAT ESv PAT OFFICE.

MAGNETIC'TOY MOUSE Vincent James Marchese, Brooklyn; N';

Application-June, 1946, Serial No. 677,299

5 Claims" (Cl. 46-45 This invention relates to improvements in toys. Theprimary objecttof this invention isthe pro vision of. an improved toy'construction comprising a baseistructurehwhereinis located anelectromagnetzwithsmeans to energize it at will and the representationof some animated-object associated v upon the base; having. an armatureadapted to be attracted by the electromagnet; the armature being soassociated upon the animated object that energizing of the electromagnet.for attraction-of the armature will cause the. animated objecttoperform motions-of various sorts: which maybe-mystifying, entertain-1ing, amusing and educational. 1

Other objects and advantages of theinvention 1 will be.apparent;from.the following detailed de-' The base B maytakevariousforms. w Preferably it is rather thinand formed of some lightweight material such as'balsa wood,- papier' mach,- plastic, aluminum orthe like; In the form shown it is polygonal in outline and thedimensionsyof course, may vary. It is provided with'a depression [0centrally therein adapted to receive the electromagnetstructure C. Thelatterconsists-of an iron or other type core-H havingpole portions [2."It is recessed on the' top,'bottom and side-surfaces thereof to receiveinsulated copper wire-201 Of coursethe winding may be'insulated'withrespect to the core and'thepole surfaces may-1ie flush with the topsurface of the base body. The winding of the electromagnet terminates inend portions 22 and 23 which are socketed within suitable grooves 24providedinwardlyof the-top surface of the'base. Since theelectromagnet-structure'Will be 'furnished as a unit, suitable flexibleleads 26 may be spliced to the ends'22 and 23 as shown at 21. The loads26 may be connected operatively to a source-of power; or battery D andan operating switch 30 may be placed in thecircuit. Of course thebattery and the wiring may be hiddenat Figure, 3 is a longitudinal-crosssectional view"- taken through the subject.

Figure; 4 is a plan .-;view: of the basestructure. with the topcoveringvremoved and moreiparticua larly showing the; electromagnetanddiagrammatically showing, its hookup in a circuit.

30 tlarlyyin Figure 6. The *entire baseis covered Figure 5 is atransversecross :sectional view 1 taken through the base structure.substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a transversecrosssectional .view

taken throughythe base structure.:showing the electromagnet energized inits circuitrfor attracts ing the armature in the burger subject andshowing the thug in some animated posture.

Figure 7 is a transverse crosssectional view taken through thebugorsubject substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure2.

In the drawings,1wher.ein for the purpose of i1- lustrationis .shownonly a preferred embodimentof theinvention,:the letterA maygenerally-designate a toy which may consist of a base structureBhaving-an electromagnet 0 embeddedtherein andconnected with a source ofpower suchas a battery D. The representation of some animate subjectE-is provided with an armature-F therein and in form to be attracted bythe-electromagnet upon energizing of the latterin ordertocause-uniqueandnatural move ments of the subject.

some convenient locationremote from observers and-the leads extend fromone edge of the base as showny'the grooves 24 being filled with somesealing compound 35,as shown more particuwith a very thin gauge covering31, which may be of fabric or paper and, of course, it entirely secretesand hides the electromagnet and its wiring' extensions.

Referring to the object E which may simulate some form of animation,such as an insect, bird,

bee, fish or even a human being, the same comprises a bodyportion 40which may be made of some soft material such as balsa wood, plastic. ormetal;- The shape of the body may vary but in the drawings the same israther of oval-shape formation having rounded bottom surfacing 41. Atthe front the body 40 maybe provided with a recess 43 wherein is hiddena spiral spring 44 which extends from the recess 43 and supports thehead 45 so that as an incident of movement of the body the head willnod. Suitable antenna 41 may be placed upon the head.

The body 40 is forwardly supported by front legs and a second pair oflegs 5| rearwardly of the front legs 50. These legs may be of springywire and their ends are embedded in the body 40 in any approved manner.

They support the body 40 in normal manner and to avoid-injury" to thetop surface of the base or its coveringthe'" wire legs 50 and 5! aretipped at 53 with some protecting material which will admit of the readysliding of the bug over the top surface of the base or its covering. Theround bottom surfacing 4! intermediate the ends of the body 49 restsupon the base surface, which is designated by the dot and dash line 55in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Rear leg structure for the object is important, in that it should notoffer any appreciable resistance to rising movement of the insect orobject. To that end I provide in the lower portion of the body slightlyto the center of the body a hollow tube 60 which extends entirelythrough the body and is open at its ends. A rather U-shaped legarrangement designated broadly at 6| is provided. It includesdivergently disposed legs 62 and 63 and a connecting bight portion fi lwhich extends through the hollow tube 60 and is freely rotatabletherein. The bug or object is partially supported by its bodyintermediate its ends, as shown in Figure 3, and this enables the legs62 and 63 to rest with a lifelike appearance upon the surface 55 of thebase, without offering any support for the object itself.

The armature F is of steel, magnetic alloy or other desired material andit is socketed in a recess 70 disposed at the rear end of the body 50 inthe under surface thereof entirely rearwa-rdly of the leg mounting tube68. The armature F may take the form shown in Figure 2, that is, theform of a trapezoid, its wider end being forwardly, and in cross sectionthe armature i0 is arcuate with its exposed surface conforming to thecurvature of the body M3 and preferably lying flush therewith. Thearmature may be suitably coated to entirely hide the same to the eye ofan observer and in any event it is not readily seen because of itslocation in the body.

Upon closing the switch .10 of the circuit it is readily obvious thatthe electromagnet will attract the armature and cause the object toperform antics or movements, such as to assume the position shown inFigure 6.

I do not wish to be limited to any particular form and shape of body norto any particular type of decoration located thereon. The eyes, mouthand nose of the object may be arranged to express such traits as fear,belligerency, affection, stupidity or the like, and any type of colordesign or other embellishment may be provided.

It is within the contemplation of this invention to locate more than onearmature in any object provided and to locate the same in such relationthat for educational purposes the electromagnet when energized willcause the object to move with natural movements. i However, forentertaining purposes the electromagnet is usually placed so that uponenergizin the electromagnet the armature will be attracted for causingthe object to move with unique and unnatural movements. The closing ofthe circuit with the arrangement shown will enable the bug to stand upand even turn completely over on its back. course the degree to Whichthe movements are caused can be controlled by the strength of themagnet. It is quite obvious that the leg arrangement will alwayscooperate perfectly in relation to its placement with the armature.

Various changes in the-shape, size and arrange.- ment of parts-may bemade to the form of invention herein shown and described withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. In a toy device the combination of a base having a toy articlesupporting surface, an electromagnet carried by said base innon-obstructing relation with respect to said supporting surface, anarticle simulating some object freely movable upon the supportingsurface of the base having a convexly rounded bottom surface engagingthe base supporting surface and in contact therewith so that the articlecan have a rocking action upon said base, an eccentrically disposedarmature mounted upon said article in position to be spaced above thesupporting surface of the base when the object is at normal gravit restupon the base with the electromagnet inactive so that upon attraction ofthe armature by the electromagnet the article will be caused to rock andmove upon said base, and means to selectively energize and de-energizesaid electromagnet.

2. In a toy device the combination of a base having a top articlesupporting surface, an electromagnet carried by said base innon-obstructing relation with respect to said supporting surface, anarticle in the form of some object freely movable upon the supportingsurface having a convexly rounded bottom surface engaging the basesupporting surface and in contact therewith so that the article can havea rocking action upon said base, an eccentrically disposed armaturemounted upon said article in position to be spaced above the supportingsurface of the base when the article is resting normally by gravity uponthe base with the electromagnet inactive, so that upon attraction of thearmature by the electromagnet the article will be caused to rock andmove upon said base, means to selectively energize and de-energize saidelectromagnet, and yieldable spring type leg means connected with saidarticle for supporting it at a portion thereof spaced from saidsupporting surface of the base.

3. As an article of manufacture a toy in the form of some animatedobject comprising a body portion, a head, spring means marginallyconnecting the head to the body portion and permitting the head to nodwith respect to the body portion, said body portion having a convexlyrounded undersurface to permit the same to have a rocking action uponsome supporting surface, spring, type yieldable supporting legsconnected to the-body portion adjacent to the head and yieldablysupporting said body portion adjacent to the head above the supportingsurface, and an armature mounted upon the body portion directly oppositethe head and in position to be spaced above the supporting surface uponwhich the body portion is resting when in a normal gravity restingposition.

i. As an article of manufacture a toy object in the form of someanimated object comprising a body portion, a head, a spring meansconnecting the head marginally to the body portion and per mitting thehead to nod with respect to the body portion, said body portion having aconvexly rounded undersurface to permit the same to have a rollingaction upon some supporting surface, spring type yieldable supportinglegs connected to the body portion adjacent to the head and yieldablesupporting said body portion adjacent to the head above the supportinsurface, an armature mounted upon the body portion directly opposite thehead and in position to be spaced above a surface upon which the bodyportion is resting in a normal gravity position upon the supportingsurface, and freel pivoted leg means mounted upon the body portionadjacent to said armature offering no resistance to support of the bodyportion upon said supporting surface.

5. In a toy device the combination of a supporting base having a topfiat supporting surface, a current controlled electromagnet carried bythe base in non-obstructing relation with respect to said fiatsupporting surface, means to selectively energize and de-energize saidelectromagnet, an object in animate form including an elongated bodyportion having a convexly rounded undersurface resting upon saidsupporting surface of the base, front spring type yieldable legsconnected with said body portion and supporting the front portion ofsaid body above the supporting surface of the base, a head, spring meansconnecting the head to the front of the body portion so that the headwill nod upon movement of the body, an armature eccentrically mountedupon the body at the rear thereof normally spaced above the supportingsurface of the base during normal gravity rest of the body portion uponsaid base, so that upon energizing of the electromag- 6 net the armatureupon attraction will cause the body to rock and move upon said base, andrear leg means connected to said body offering no resistance to supportof the body upon said base.

VINCENT JAMES MARCHESE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

